Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

- L. N. GILREATH.

WIRE STRBTCHBR.

Patented May 28, 1895.

- WITNESSES IN VENT 0R M Attorney.

THE norms PTER$ 00.. FNOTO-LIYHO, WASHINGTON. a. c.

Tamas UNITED LEWIS N. GILREATH, OF CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,160, dated May 28, 1895.

Application filed August 31, 1894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS N. GILREATH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oartersville, in the county of Bartow and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Wire-Stretchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a plan of the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in wire stretchers, and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described.

The object of the invention is to provide an implement of the above named character, of very simple construction, but which will form efficient means for stretching wire of any description, plain or barbed, and of all sizes.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates an elongated bar, which at one end is enlarged to form a head 13, the enlargement being 'upon the upper face of the bar, and forming a shoulder at a which is of arcuate or convex form, the enlargement becoming gradually greater from said shoulder to the end. The lateral faces of said head 7 are tapered convergingly from said shoulder to the end of the head. Pivoted to the upper face of the bar just back of said shoulder is a lever D, whose longer arm is bent upwardly from the bar, and is shaped to form a handle. The opposite and shorter arm of the lever is enlarged, and terminates in a convex end 01, formed with vertical teeth or serrations f. When the lever is parallel with the bar, the

' center of the convexitycoincides with the longitudinal axis of the bar and lever, and just clears the shoulder at.

The operation is as follows: The coil of wire, which may be either plain or barbed, is unrolled along the line of fence posts. The end of the wire is made fast to the post at beginning point, and the stretcher is taken in the Serial No. 1,314 (No model.)

right hand and the wire in the left hand. Moving along the line of posts, the wire is placed between the shoulder a and the teeth or serrations f, and the lever D is turned so as to catch the wire. The head B is placed against the side of the post to which the wire is to be secured, opposite from the starting point. The bar A is pulled or pushed. with one or both hands away from the post, thereby producing a tension on the wire which is then ready to be stapled or nailed to the post. The enlargement of the head prevents the stretcher from twisting over while it is being operated to create a tension on the wire.

The stretcher is also designed for use in making fence upon and through forest trees, also for stretching wire across streams, and wherever else a device of the character is nec essary.

The device is extremely simple and being so quickly and easily adjusted to catch or unloose the wire, is very convenient and eifective especially in running a fence upon hills, or around curves, as the tension can be given the wire at every post, thereby enabling the operator to get the proper distance between the wires very readily, without loss of time. In reaching the last panel or post in a fence or at a corner of a field, the tension can be given the wire at the last or corner post without the necessity for an extra post or object to fasten the stretcher to.

By means of the arcuate form of the SlllOlll der er, and lever-end d it will be seen that the stretcher is rendered capable of use with widely Varying sizes of wire.

It will be observed that the place where the grip is made is in line with the central portion of the head or enlargement whereby the tension of the wire comes low down on said head or enlargement, which prevents the lever from twisting over during the operation of stretch- Having described my invention, what I Patent, is

In a wire stretching tool,the bar A, having at one end portion thereof an enlargement B, said enlargement being wholly upon the upper face of the bar and gradually becoming greater toward the end of said bar, whereby the end of the bar is provided with a broad bearing face above the plane of the grip, at its extremity, without increasing its thickness at the gripping shoulder, the lateral faces of said enlarged portion being tapered inwardly toward that end of the bar, and a gripping lever pivoted to said bar, and adapted to 00- I 5 act'with said enlargement, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS N. GILREATH. Witnesses:

J. B. HOWARD, W. H. HOWARD. 

